Harbaugh’s opening helped close deal with Moss

During Randy Moss’ 24-hour recruitment, Jim Harbaugh played the role of both coach and quarterback.

But it was Harbaugh’s initial role – chauffeur – that gave Moss the first clue his soon-to-be head coach was wired a little differently from his peers.

Harbaugh picked Moss up at the airport Sunday, a gesture that stunned the wide receiver. Who did he expect would handle the pick-up duty? Maybe a member of the team’s security. Possibly wide receivers coach John Morton.

“I was very appreciative of him doing that,” Moss said to 49ers.com. “I mean, the head coach picking a guy up – think about that.”

No word on whether Harbaugh gave Moss a lift in his beat-up blue pickup while sporting his black-sweatshirt-and-khakis uniform, but it was another example of the appealing everyman quality of a $25 million coach. Harbaugh eschews first class, moonlights as the Indiana basketball team’s student manager and takes hands-on coaching to another level.

Can you picture Bill Belichick helping staff members lug portable goalposts across the field during training camp?

Harbaugh’s energy figures to be an asset as free agency begins this afternoon.

It evidently helped lure Moss to San Francisco on Monday. Last year, it inspired safety Donte Whitner to a make a last-second switch – bailing on the Bengals to sign with the 49ers.

“It was a change of heart,” Whitner explained. “I thought I was going to go become a Cincinnati Bengal. Coach called me and told me he had a young secondary here and would like me to come help lead this secondary.”

Now, let’s be real: In the end, money usually talks.

But Harbaugh’s words – and actions – could, again, make a difference this week.